m The use of Hydrocarbon (R290) as an drop in for split type

air conditioning is widely proposed by the local supplier

with reason of Malaysian commitment to Montreal and
Kyoto Protocol. There are many experimental investigation
in the past showed that there is a drop of total charge (40%
to 60%) and running amp by 50% due to its low density of
refrigerant compares to R22 (1.013 bar at boiling point) :
4.706 kg/m3 for gas, (1.013 bar at boiling point) : 1413
kg/m3 for liquid and R410a (3.0 kg/m³ for gas, 1040 kg/ m³
for liquid). To define the optimum charge for the unit,
several test were carried out under control environment
and actual ambient condition. The result showed that there
is significant drop of total charge and running amp.
m þn Malaysia almost 90% of air conditioning system still using R22 as
refrigerant, and 100% still using R22 for split air conditioning system.
m Early 2009 the air conditioning manufacturer start to promote R410a as
replacement but with extra cost for installation due to its high working
pressure. This also due to Government decision to stop the use of R22
for all new system start Jan 2010.
m When the concern of ODP and global warming increases the
independent supplier for the refrigerant start proposing Hydrocarbon as
an alternative. WHY R290 ?
m Reported that 80 g of LPG showed that the best performance
compared to that R12. è



m
 
  
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*
m R290 is pure propane, a hydrocarbon and efficient
naturally occurring refrigerant with similar
properties to R22.
m No ozone depletion potential, ODP = 0
m Low Global Warming Potential, GWP = 3
m Environmentally safe but highly flammable.
m þn the case of leakage, the full hydrocarbon
quantity does not exceed the lower flammable limit
during normal working condition. @@

+ 

m Table below provides a summary of the
thermodynamics of R290 as compared to R22,
R134a, R404A, and R600a under the chosen
conditions.
þ
   
   



    







     

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 %     

&

 %     

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Legend: 0 = acceptable; + = good; - = problematic.

m -umming up the different thermodynamic aspects,
R290 could be used as replacement for R22 in
many commercial refrigerated MBP and LBP
applications. R290 is the only candidate, which
comes close to R22, in some aspects even
outperforming it. The lower pressure ratio and
lower discharge temperature even allow for use in
certain applications where R22 is problematic.
Ê,
-
&. Ê
m Boiling point = - 40.7 Aÿ m Boiling point = -42.09 Aÿ
m Density = 3.66 kg/m³ at m Density = 1.83 kg/m³ gas,
15Aÿ, gas 583 kg/m³ liquid.
m ODP = 0.055 m ODP = 0
m GWP = 3
m GWP = 1810

R22 R 290
m Binary Blend of
hydroflourocarbon or HFÿ
compounds, 50% of R32
and 50% of R125
m Boiling Point = -48.5 Aÿ
m Density = 3.0 kg/m³ gas,
1040 kg/m³ liquid
m No chlorine content, no
ozone depletion potential,
ODP = 0
m GWP = 1725

R410A
m The review and experiments has showed that R290 is
the good alternative which come close to R22 in some
aspect. The increasing use of flammable refrigerant
such as isobutene R600a in house appliances also
can be an indication of it is safe to use hydrocarbon as
a direct replacement for split air conditioning system,
but the total ?

?
    ?.
-ome manufacture only limit the charge up to 150g
and service technician must be trained in safe
handling procedure.
m The schematic diagram of split air conditioning
unit experimental setup with the total capacity of
10000 btu is as shown in Fig 1. þts consist of
indoor unit installed in control ambient room with
artificial sensible load varies from 1000 watt to
5000 watt. The air cooled condensing unit is
installed in open ambient condition. The system
using capillary tube to control the amount
refrigerant to match the system capacity.
w
w

w
w

w 
w



w
w



w


ww

Fig 1
m To measure the parameters related to the
experiment, 12 temperature point (type K
temperature sensor), low pressure and high
pressure gauge are fix on the system.
m All measured data will be plotted on the PH chart
using cool pack.
m /
Fig 2
m During the experiment, the temperature inside the
room was maintained at 24Aÿ to 26Aÿ, which was
monitored by digital thermometer with an accuracy
± 0.5 K
m A 20 numbers of 100 watt each bulb was
connected to power supply in order to maintain the
room temperature and also as an artificial load for
the system.
m þnitially, the system was flushed with nitrogen to
eliminate impurities, moisture and other foreign
materials inside the system, which may effect the
accuracy of the experimental result.
m Next the system was evacuated until its reach 1000
micron and break the vacuum using nitrogen.
m And then evacuated the system again until its reach
500 micron and break the vacuum with nitrogen.
m The system is evacuated for the 3rd time until its reach
250 micron to ensure that the system is leakage free
and no moisture inside.
m The system is charged with R290 start with 200 g,
240 g, 260 g, 280 g, 300 g, 320 g, and 340 g.
m At the same time 20 numbers of 100 watt bulb is
on to create the load.
m On every charging process , 30 minutes time
frame is allowable for the system to stabilize and
all reading is recorded.
m þn order to reduce the experimental uncertainties,
experiments is repeated for 3 times and average
value were considered.
 Experimental data obtained from the
different charge amount are as follow.
8.400

8.300

8. 00

8.100

8.000

7.900

7.800

7.700
00 0 40 60 80 300 3 0 340

ÿOP vs ÿHARGE
8.400

8.300

8.200

8.100

8.000

7.900

7.800

7.700
48.53 49.36 48.73 45.40 41.86 39.60 39.23 39.30

ÿOP vs Dþ-ÿHARGE
m Base on the chart ÿOP vs. ÿharge and chart ÿOP
vs. Discharge plotted; found that the trend of ÿOP
increasing when the charge is added until it reach
the maximum point and then gradually going
down. The maximum point on chart is the optimum
point where; the total charge by mass is optimum.
12

10

0
7.93 8.01 8.3 8.27 8.26 8.24 8.24 8.24

-H V- ÿOP
m From the chart plotted; superheat vs. ÿOP the
optimum charge at 240g and its give superheat =
8.3 Aÿ
m þf we take -uperheat as checking criteria; the
normal value for superheat for an air conditioning
application is somewhere 5Aÿ to 10Aÿ, è
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m For further discussion, even the optimum charge is
found from the experiments, the evaporating
temperature found to be very high 14.6Aÿ,
m /
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m For the result above and requirement stated show that
there is an accurate result due to system setup.
m Even the manufacturer claim that R290 is suitable as
direct replacement for R22 and R410A (in the case of
this experiment), we found that minor modification
need to be done on the system.
m -uitable capillary tube should be change and follow
with further investigation.